Proud Frank and Anita Milford celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary today, and equal the record for England's longest marriage.

Proud Frank and Anita Milford celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary today, and equal the record for England's longest marriage.

Devoted Frank, 100, and Anita, 99, who married on May 26, 1928, have reached their oak wedding anniversary and match Percy and Florence Arrowsmith who reached the milestone in 2006.

Sadly, Percy from Hereford died a fortnight after his 80th anniversary.

Frank and Anita celebrated the event with family and friends at a party held at their care home in Plymouth, Devon.

They have two children, 78-year-old Marie and Frank, 73, plus five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, The couple list the secret of their happy marriage as "a little kiss before bed, trips to bingo and good plain English food".

Anita said: "Couples these days don't last long because they don't take enough time for each other. There just isn't enough respect.

"Our advice to young couples would be to make time for a little romance every day."

Retired dock worker Frank added: "We're very proud of what we have achieved.

"When we started we had low wages and worked very hard.

"The war years were tough - a bomb even dropped on our house.

"But we have come through it. Young people today want it all too fast."

The couple met at a YMCA dance in 1926 and married two years later at Torpoint register office in Cornwall. It was the same year the first £1 note came into circulation and Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

Their son Frank said: "Being married for 80 years is a wonderful achievement.

"It is fantastic for them. They are doing very well but enjoy the quiet life nowadays."

According to the Guinness Book of Records the longest marriage in Britain was between Thomas and Elizabeth Morgan who lived in Caerleon, Wales.

They wed on May 4, 1809, and remained married for 81 years 260 days until Elizabeth's death on January 19, 1891.

The Guinness Book of Records lists the world's longest-recorded marriage as a couple who were together for 86 years.

Cousins Sir Temulji Bhicaji Narima and Lady Narima, who lived in India, were married from 1853 to 1940.

1928 AND ALL THAT

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly an aircraft across the Atlantic on June 18.

Scientist Alexander Fleming announced his discovery of penicillin on September 3.

First Coca-Cola was drunk in Britain, after being brought over to Europe during the Amsterdam Olympics that year.

Women over 21 got the right to vote thanks to Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin passing the Equal Franchise Act.